Clothesline supporting apparatus



Nov, 15, 1938.

R. R. ROBERTSON CLOTHESLINE SUPPORTING APPARATUS Filed May 19, 1937 2 Sheets-S heet l ATTORNEYS Jfeltellilfobflisan,

Nov. 15, 1938. R. R. ROBERTSON CLOTHESLINE SUPPORTING APPARATUS Filed May 19, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN EYS III S S E m W Patented-Nov. 15, 1938 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .CLOTHESLINESUPPORTING APPARATUS 'iReuel Reynaud Robertson, Easton, Pa.

Ap l c tio May 19, 1937, Serial No. 143,458

solaims. (o1. 211-119.05)

This invention-relates to line holding devices, particularly to types fixed on windowframes, and having means movable through the window opening into a convenient position for an operator to attach articles to the line, or remove articles from it, without being subjected to discomfort and hazard.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a line supporting apparatus of simple con struction and light weight that can be operated with a minimum of effortand exertion and that willbeinconspicuous when same is in a non-operating vertical position outside of the room.

Another object of theinvention is to provide an angular bracket, hinged to one edge of a metal plate to which is rotatably mounted a metal disc supporting a slidable bar, said bar having a pulley'rotatablymounted on one of its ends and carrying a hook and. handle at its other end.

A further feature is toprovide a metal plate, hinged at one edge through the means of an angular bracket, to the side of a window frame, and attached at its other end to the said window frame or to the side of the adjacent wall of a building by means of a turnbuckle, said metal plate having a hole in its approximate center.

through which is pinioned a rotatably mounted metal disc having two lugs attached at opposite edges of said metal disc forming guide supports for a slidable bar and carrying, on the support attached to the outer edge of said metal disc, a small sheave, said outer edge of said metal disc being the edge farthest away when slidable bar is in a horizontal position and as viewed through the window to which it is attached, from the interior of the room.

Another purpose of the invention is the provision of a washline holding device that can .be readily adjusted at will of operator to any desired lateral angle with respect to a window frame without interfering with the operation of the-window sash. 7

Another feature is to provide a clothes line holding apparatus that can be attached to and operated on either the right or left side frame of a window without the necessity of 're-assem bling the apparatus in any manner whatsoever.

Means have beenprovided for manually revolving the metal disc on the metal plate in such manner that the slidable bar assumes either a vertical or a horizontal position at will of operator, and means have also been provided to lock the slidable in. its horizontalv position when extended to its maximum extent'through window .into: room and/or when said slidable bar as- Attached to opposite edges of metal disc sumes a non-operating vertical position outside of window.

These advantageous objects are accomplished by the novel construction, arrangements and combinations of parts, hereinafter described and 5 illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a material part ofthis disclosure and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing an embodiment of the invention as disposed for use.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional drawing of theinvention as disposed for use and as viewed vertically from above, drawn to a reduced scale.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing construction of window bracket support.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing construction of metal disc support for slidable bar. Figure 5 is another side elevational view show ing an embodiment of the invention'when in its non-operating position.

I Figure 6 is a transverse sectional drawing of the invention when in non-operating position outside of window as viewed through window from interior of room, drawn to'a reduced scale.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing-construction of hinged plate support for metal disc. In the drawings, the numeral l9 indicates in general the side frame of a conventional type of .window, grooved to receive an'upper and lower sash.

Secured on the outer side of the frame or. wall I9 is an elongated angular bracket I, OHQLSi-dfi of which has two extended lugs 22 and. each bored to receive pintle l5.

A plate 2 having lugs 23 and 25 respectively, attached thereto at opposite edges of rear' end of said plate, is hinged to an angular bracket l by means of pintle l6 passing through respective holes in the approximate centers of lugs 22, 2'3, 24 and25. g,

The forward or narrower end of plate 2 is secured tov one end of turnbuckle I8. The other end of turnbuckle I8 is fastened to side of wall or 'window frame 19.

A metal disc is rotatably mounted on plate 2 by means of pin H which passes through. hole 21 in the center of disc 3 and'through hole 28 in \the approximate center of'plate 2. Pin I1 is fitted with a lock nut which is adjusted so that there is maintained a constant friction between disc 3 and plate'2.

v3 and extending outward at ninety degree angles to the surface of metal disc 3 and plate 2 are supports 30 and M respectively, each bored at holes,

32 and 33 respectively at a point closely adjacent to the surface of disc 3, to receive slidable bar 4.

The outer ends of supports and 3l-are bent, at points closely adjacent to the outer edges of holes 32 and 33 respectively, parallel with the surface of disc 3.

A small sheave II is rotatably mounted, in parallel with surface of disc 3, on the bent end of support 30 by means of pin 34 which is anchored at one end to support 30 and at theother end to strut 8. The other end of strut 8 is permanently attached to support 3|.

A hook 9, shaped like an S, is pivotally mounted in hole bored in strut 8 at the point which is approximately opposed to the center of disc 3 when the strut is mounted thereon.

An elongated bar 4 is slidably mounted through holes 32 and 33 in supports 39 and 3| respectively, on disc 3. Attached to the end of bar '4 which protrudes outward through hole 33 in support 3|, is handle l4 and also hook l3 to which is attached clothes line pulley l2.

To the'end of bar 4 which protrudes outward through hole 32 in support 30 is rotatably atof U pin 1 is passed under the elbow formed by strut 5 andarm 6, and thence over bar 4 thereby providing sheave ID with ample clearance for passing over sheave II when bar 4 is slided rearward into room. The projecting end of the longer prong of U pin I is inserted into recess 36, out in the narrow end of plate 2, when bar 4 has assumed a horizontal position and has been extended rearward to its maximum extent into the room through the window, thereby preventing bar 4 from sliding forward or rocking downward while the device is in operation.

An endless line or cord I5 is trained under sheave H, and over sheave HI, pulley l2, hook 9 and pulley 35, which latter pulley is remotely supported by a pole or other means on terrain adjacent to the building to which the apparatus is attached, thereby forming an endless clothes line.

side it is merely necessary to reverse, perpendicularly, the apparatus when attaching it to opposite window frame, pivot metal plate 3 and bar 4 on pin [7 until bar 4 is in normal operating position and to pivot on the short prong of U pin 1 the assembly formed by strut 5, arm 6, sheave H! and the long prong of U pin '1, and then re-thread clothes line l5 as previously described.

In operation the device having been assembled as indicated, the window sashes are raised to permit disc 3 and bar 4 to be-rocked on pin simultaneously with the sliding of bar 4, in supports 30 and 3| attached to disc 3, rearwardly through the window opening until bar 4 has approached a horizontal position and the longer prong of U pin 1, attached to the outward end of bar 4, has become recessed in recess 36 cut in plate 2.

Having thus adjusted the device into position for operation the lower cord of the endless clothesline 5 is lifted off of hook 9 and filled with or emptied of clothes and other items of wash. After finishing the foregoing operation the operator replaces the lower cord of endless clothes line l5 onto hook 9 and lifts the rearward end of bar, 4 sufficiently .to disconnect the longer prong of U pin 7 from recess 36 and then simultaneously rocks and slides bar 4' outward through the window from the interior of the room until bar 4 assumes a vertical position outside 'of the window in which position bar 4 may be locked by attaching hook 29, secured to the sill of the window, to recess 2| in handle M on bar 4.

When the apparatus has been constructed as hereinbefore described it should be noted that the endless clothesline |5 will have a uniform tension at all times whether the device is in a closed vertical position outside of window or bar 4 is extended into room into position for operation, provided the operator'has exercised the precaution to lift the lower cord of clothes line I5 over hook 9 before the device is changed from an operating to a non-operating or closed position. H

Although the foregoing isdescriptive of the best known embodimentof the invention, it will be apparent that minor changes may be made within the intent, spirit and scope of the-ap pended claims in their broadest sense.

Having thus described the invention what is' claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patent is: r f g 1. A clothes line'supporting apparatus comprising an elongated angular bracket adapted to be rigidly secured to a window frame, a base plate hinged on one end of said bracket, means to adjustably maintain said plate at any required lateral angle relative to said bracket, said base plate provided at one end with an inwardly extending slot, a metal plate rotatably mounted on said base plate, abar slidably mounted on said rotatably mounted metal plate, a sheave adjacent the outer end of said bar, an arm and strut connecting said sheave to said bar, a U-shaped pin having a long and a short prong pivotally attaching said strut to the outer end of said bar by means of its shorter prong and forming with its longer prong means to lock said bar in its horizontal position when the latter is extended to its maximum extent into a room by theinsertion of said longer prong into said inwardly extending slot formed in said base plate, a pulley and handle mounted on the rearward end of said bar, asheave and hook carried by said rotatably mounted metal plate,oa pulley remotely supported and an endless clothes line carried by said sheave, pulleys and hook.

2. A device of the character described, comprising, a bracket adapted to be rigidly secured to a window frame, a base plate connected to said bracket, an adjustable member rotatably vmounted on said plate and fashioned with slotted lugs extending therefrom, a longitudinally extending arm slidably mounted in said lugs, a

sheave carried by'one of said lugs, a second sheave pivotally connected to one end of said arm for adjustment over said first mentioned sheave, a pulley rotatably mounted on the opposite end of said arm and adapted to have trained thereover a section of a clothes line having a run trained over said first and second mentioned sheaves, a tensioning member pivotally connected to said rotatable member whereby to tension another run of said line when said arm is rotated to a vertical position relative to said bracket, said plate having a slot formed therein adjacent one end thereof, and a pin connected to said arm and engageable within said slot to maintain said arm in'horizontal position relative to said bracket.

3. A device of the'character described, comprising, a bracket adapted to be rigidly secured to a window frame, a base plate connected to said bracket, an adjustable member rotatably mounted on said plate and fashioned with slotted lugs extending therefrom, a longitudinally extending arm slidably mounted in said lugs, a sheave carried by one of said lugs, a second sheave pivotally connected to one end of .said

arm for adjustment over said. first mentioned sheave, a pulley rotatably mounted on the opposite end of said arm and adapted to have trained thereoveriva section of a clothes line having a run trained over said first and second mentioned sheaves, a tensioning member pivotally connected to said rotatable member whereby to tension another run of said line when said arm is rotated to a vertical position relative to said bracket, said plate having a slot formed therein adjacent one end thereof, a pin connected to said arm and engageable within said slot to maintain said arm in horizontal position relative to said bracket, and means fashioned on said arm 

